"In my older years, I'm going into that world of children that's the way to keep yourself young. Be childlike, not childish."
Dolly Pardon
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Opportunities Do Knock
I'm glad life keeps getting clearer, at my age I can't afford to stand in the dark for very long. I have a passion for children, so did my mother actually. It is a gift, I watched her and how she interacted with such love and ease. I have had other role models as well, a cool lady that I had hoped would have been my mother-in-law. She was the head of one of the local High School's English Department.
She interacted with teenagers with great ease, and high expectations. She earned their respect, and then their confidence. She challenged them to always strive towards their highest potential. She had many young teachers that coveted time with her, to learn and be guided by her experience and knowledge.
These were two completely different types of women. One just a mother, with compassion and an extraordinary ability to love, garnished with patience. The other, an educated career woman, who was loving, and stern.She had the passion and energy to demonstrate by her example, to always strive for more than what you think you are capable of.
I loved both of these women, they left a hand print on my life and on my heart. They were my mentors at a very young age, and the latter through my impressionable teen years.
I have thought for quite a while now, that people come and go from our lives and stay for a season. We choose what we take from that experience. We can remember the lessons taught, the advise and experiences shared, and remember how they enriched our lives and learn from their example. For me, I remember the gift of the relationships. I will continue to be true to my passion, I will continue to learn and most of all I will cherish the memories.
I have had so many new opportunities arise stemming from the choice of being positive, no matter what is thrown at me. That was a lesson taught to me by Florence ( I love you ). Another dear friend of mine told me once, to never forget the good person you are, no matter what harm someone does to you, do not give in to the negativity. She was right, by keeping my eyes on the people that led by example, by believing in myself, doors have opened wider than I could have expected.
Trust in who you are, not in who others think you are, live your life with purpose, honesty, and do no harm. The doors will open.
She interacted with teenagers with great ease, and high expectations. She earned their respect, and then their confidence. She challenged them to always strive towards their highest potential. She had many young teachers that coveted time with her, to learn and be guided by her experience and knowledge.
These were two completely different types of women. One just a mother, with compassion and an extraordinary ability to love, garnished with patience. The other, an educated career woman, who was loving, and stern.She had the passion and energy to demonstrate by her example, to always strive for more than what you think you are capable of.
I loved both of these women, they left a hand print on my life and on my heart. They were my mentors at a very young age, and the latter through my impressionable teen years.
I have thought for quite a while now, that people come and go from our lives and stay for a season. We choose what we take from that experience. We can remember the lessons taught, the advise and experiences shared, and remember how they enriched our lives and learn from their example. For me, I remember the gift of the relationships. I will continue to be true to my passion, I will continue to learn and most of all I will cherish the memories.
I have had so many new opportunities arise stemming from the choice of being positive, no matter what is thrown at me. That was a lesson taught to me by Florence ( I love you ). Another dear friend of mine told me once, to never forget the good person you are, no matter what harm someone does to you, do not give in to the negativity. She was right, by keeping my eyes on the people that led by example, by believing in myself, doors have opened wider than I could have expected.
Trust in who you are, not in who others think you are, live your life with purpose, honesty, and do no harm. The doors will open.
Irish Blessings
May joy and peace surround you...
May joy and peace surround you,
contentment latch your door,
and happiness be with you now
and bless you evermore!
May the road rise to meet you...
May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand
Friday, March 13, 2009
Believing
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Test
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
-Abraham Lincoln
-Abraham Lincoln
Saturday, March 7, 2009
What Will We Do?
We face choices everyday, they can be small simple choices or deep commitments. They come in all forms, from what we view to be insignificant to the profound. What do we do when we are faced with choices? What do those choices say about who we are, and who is influenced by them?
I saw this as important before, but now I see it with such clarity. We move through our daily lives robotically, focused on the immediate issues of daily living, oblivious to the doors that are constantly opening and closing around us. Doors of opportunity, doors of choice.
Imagine a game show not called, "Windows of Opportunity ", but "Doors of Opportunity". You as the contestant are sitting in a chair watching the rotating doors spinning around you slowly, at first. There is a studio filled with an audience, watching, wondering, and learning from your choices. Would you think more carefully as each door spun before you, or would you nonchalantly select a door, and ride the chair through waiting for the next selection of doors? The choices are easy ones at first, they always are, but as the game progresses the doors move more quickly and the choices become more difficult.
You begin to see how you have a created a pattern in your selections, that you were not even aware of. Your choices have led to a path of limited future choices and the game ends. A curtain opens at the end of your game and you see the result of your choices. You see the rippling effect and how it has impacted those people in your close circle as well as people you barely recognize, strangers as well as the casual acquaintance. The audience sound effects begin to fill the stage and you hear the commits, and sighs, or cheers.
You are left feeling either shocked, guilt ridden, or pleased.
There is always someone watching, observing, learning, and being affected by the choices we make everyday. When we begin to realize that we, as individuals have a true choice to simply "do good", "do no harm", " be kind", in our everyday walk, perhaps we will begin to take the time to choose more carefully, and thoughtfully.
I saw this as important before, but now I see it with such clarity. We move through our daily lives robotically, focused on the immediate issues of daily living, oblivious to the doors that are constantly opening and closing around us. Doors of opportunity, doors of choice.
Imagine a game show not called, "Windows of Opportunity ", but "Doors of Opportunity". You as the contestant are sitting in a chair watching the rotating doors spinning around you slowly, at first. There is a studio filled with an audience, watching, wondering, and learning from your choices. Would you think more carefully as each door spun before you, or would you nonchalantly select a door, and ride the chair through waiting for the next selection of doors? The choices are easy ones at first, they always are, but as the game progresses the doors move more quickly and the choices become more difficult.
You begin to see how you have a created a pattern in your selections, that you were not even aware of. Your choices have led to a path of limited future choices and the game ends. A curtain opens at the end of your game and you see the result of your choices. You see the rippling effect and how it has impacted those people in your close circle as well as people you barely recognize, strangers as well as the casual acquaintance. The audience sound effects begin to fill the stage and you hear the commits, and sighs, or cheers.
You are left feeling either shocked, guilt ridden, or pleased.
There is always someone watching, observing, learning, and being affected by the choices we make everyday. When we begin to realize that we, as individuals have a true choice to simply "do good", "do no harm", " be kind", in our everyday walk, perhaps we will begin to take the time to choose more carefully, and thoughtfully.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
"STAMPEDE"
I like cows, I have always liked cows, I don't know why. When I am driving through the country side the first thing I notice are the beautiful rolling hills, and then, yes, the cows. There are always cows. On many trips back east, especially in and around Charlottesville, Va., there are beautiful pastures, thick luscious trees, and yes, cows. Big, strong, gorgeous cows. OK, the point?
Is it any wonder, that on one of our outings to one of our new found interests, an Indian Casino, I find ...yes COWS! They like me, they really do..cool. They call to me everytime I go into the place. My daughters could confirm that I have an uncanny gift of locating "the perfect" slot machine. So it was no real surprise when I was "called" by one that had cows.
There are several of the machines, but only a couple are truly your "friends". For 25 cents you can play FOREVER! You put in 20 bucks, 80 credits..ching, ching, ching ( music to my ears). You hit spin and the cutest cows in one bar, two bars, or three bars, spin and spin by, and Lucky Horse Shoes..tooooooo cute. Then you spin again and the best thing of all happens....the cowboy ( I do love a cowboy!) yells " STAMPEDE" and the machine begins to shake and vibrate, and he yells , "hit the spin button", you must always obey the cowboy. The bars start spinning and the cows are everywhere, and as long as they are SOMEWHERE, you get to corral them, and my FAVORITE, is when my cowboy says, CASH COW!!
During one such setting, my wheels went on a spinning spree that lasted 4 minutes, CASH COW,CASH COW, CASH COW, it was getting embarrassing, people were standing around in droves. You can corral only so many, so they play a song reminiscent of a scene from a funny John Wayne movie, and say, "NEW CORRAL". The best part is when they count your cows, and the "CASH COW" gets branded. Yep, that "CASH COW" can be branded with lots of numbers, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 up to 100. 600 credits later, after all the laughter, my big spin was over, and I hit 2 credits hit spin, 2 credits, spin, then my cowboy began again "STAMPEDE", "CASH COW".
I have never left this place without at least getting everyone in our party $200 bucks to take home, and more giggles, belly laughs and show stopping moments than one can count. They use to laugh at me when I said that I thought cows were really pretty, they don't anymore.
Is it any wonder, that on one of our outings to one of our new found interests, an Indian Casino, I find ...yes COWS! They like me, they really do..cool. They call to me everytime I go into the place. My daughters could confirm that I have an uncanny gift of locating "the perfect" slot machine. So it was no real surprise when I was "called" by one that had cows.
There are several of the machines, but only a couple are truly your "friends". For 25 cents you can play FOREVER! You put in 20 bucks, 80 credits..ching, ching, ching ( music to my ears). You hit spin and the cutest cows in one bar, two bars, or three bars, spin and spin by, and Lucky Horse Shoes..tooooooo cute. Then you spin again and the best thing of all happens....the cowboy ( I do love a cowboy!) yells " STAMPEDE" and the machine begins to shake and vibrate, and he yells , "hit the spin button", you must always obey the cowboy. The bars start spinning and the cows are everywhere, and as long as they are SOMEWHERE, you get to corral them, and my FAVORITE, is when my cowboy says, CASH COW!!
During one such setting, my wheels went on a spinning spree that lasted 4 minutes, CASH COW,CASH COW, CASH COW, it was getting embarrassing, people were standing around in droves. You can corral only so many, so they play a song reminiscent of a scene from a funny John Wayne movie, and say, "NEW CORRAL". The best part is when they count your cows, and the "CASH COW" gets branded. Yep, that "CASH COW" can be branded with lots of numbers, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 up to 100. 600 credits later, after all the laughter, my big spin was over, and I hit 2 credits hit spin, 2 credits, spin, then my cowboy began again "STAMPEDE", "CASH COW".
I have never left this place without at least getting everyone in our party $200 bucks to take home, and more giggles, belly laughs and show stopping moments than one can count. They use to laugh at me when I said that I thought cows were really pretty, they don't anymore.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Why Do "THINGS" Happen?
Life seems to be unpredictable, we have a plan it seems to be going fine. We live our lives going about our daily routines and then we are struck between the eyes with the unimaginable. An event so foreign to our daily lives, that it stops us like the proverbial WALL.
We muster up our courage, we gather all of the information we can, and we make a plan. Then we begin the journey that takes us places we would never have wanted, nor dreamed of going.
Is it the end result or the journey that matters? Whatever it is one thing we can be certain of, we will never look at life the same again. It's different, the experience has changed us somehow. What we are left with is the knowledge and the memories of the journey and the lessons learned along the way.
If the journey ends with a death, we hurt, we grieve, we cry out for mercy and understanding. We beg for comfort from the pain of loss. We cry out for the strength to find a way to fill a void so large we cannot ever imagine it being filled. We are left with the physical absence of someone loved and desperately needed. We question life, and we question choices, and a new journey begins.
If the journey ends with inspiring hope, and revelation that we made it through, although battered, and bruised, we rest. We drink in the whole experience, and begin to reassess life. What is important, what isn't, what should I change, the questioning period begins. New revelations take place, and a new journey begins.
Above all we learn one thing hopefully, who do we trust, who can we depend on, who has your back. Who do you turn to when you are presented with a journey, not of your choosing?
THINGS HAPPEN for a reason, to open eyes, to change behavior, to offer opportunity. It doesn't mean that the journey isn't hard, but we need to make peace with it. Do we handle it with peace or with hatred, do we harm, seek revenge out of hurt and anger, or do we surrender to the hurt and pain..let it heal and move forward.
Many times the choices we make after the journey are as important or more important than the ones we made during it.
We muster up our courage, we gather all of the information we can, and we make a plan. Then we begin the journey that takes us places we would never have wanted, nor dreamed of going.
Is it the end result or the journey that matters? Whatever it is one thing we can be certain of, we will never look at life the same again. It's different, the experience has changed us somehow. What we are left with is the knowledge and the memories of the journey and the lessons learned along the way.
If the journey ends with a death, we hurt, we grieve, we cry out for mercy and understanding. We beg for comfort from the pain of loss. We cry out for the strength to find a way to fill a void so large we cannot ever imagine it being filled. We are left with the physical absence of someone loved and desperately needed. We question life, and we question choices, and a new journey begins.
If the journey ends with inspiring hope, and revelation that we made it through, although battered, and bruised, we rest. We drink in the whole experience, and begin to reassess life. What is important, what isn't, what should I change, the questioning period begins. New revelations take place, and a new journey begins.
Above all we learn one thing hopefully, who do we trust, who can we depend on, who has your back. Who do you turn to when you are presented with a journey, not of your choosing?
THINGS HAPPEN for a reason, to open eyes, to change behavior, to offer opportunity. It doesn't mean that the journey isn't hard, but we need to make peace with it. Do we handle it with peace or with hatred, do we harm, seek revenge out of hurt and anger, or do we surrender to the hurt and pain..let it heal and move forward.
Many times the choices we make after the journey are as important or more important than the ones we made during it.
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